Cooking utensil and its heating means



July 2, 1946. l .1. H. GMRAYsoN l Y. 2,402,997

` COOKING UTENSIL AND ITS HEATING MEANS Gttorneg COOKING UTENSIL AND ITS HEATING MEANS Filed June a, 1942 2 sheets-sheet 2 3 llll ntor, JOHN/7. @2A V50/vf. E

f l /f l Gttorneg l atented-Juyz, 1946 COOKING UTENSIL AND ITS HEATING MEANS v John H.' Grayson, Monrovia, Calif., assig-nor Lowell & Grayson, Monrovia., Calif., a limited partnership Application June 8', 1942, Serial No. 446,203

(ci. 23e-33) A 22 Claims. l

This invention relates to cooking utensils, and specifically to a type of cooking utensil so formed and constructed as to regulate to a predetermined degree a source of heat for said utensil.

At the present time, cooking utensils with their content, are ordinarily heated on a range of some form, either gas or electric. Often the content of said cooking4 utensil becomes too hot, boils over, or cooks away even in cases Where the content is being Watched. It also happens that certain foods should only be cooked to a determined temperature, which temperature is diflicult to approximate by mere observation of the food.

An object of the present invention is the provision of means whereby any content within the utensil may be heated to a determined temperature, and as the said temperature is approximated, the heat source is controlled thermostatically so as to prevent a rise in the temperature to exceed that which has been determined.

'In the carrying out of the object stated, I have provided a novel form of cooking utensil, say a han, having acontrolled heat responsive portion.

heat but, in the present instance, I so form the utensil that a given portion of the bottom Wall thereof is controlled as to its movement. This given portion is `adapted to cooperate with a valve or other heat regulating element to the end that movement of said portion actuates said valve or other heat regulating element. Actuation of the control member for any type of heater is contemplated by my invention, although only a gas burner with an automatically actuated Vcontrol valve is shown herein; An electric heater of novel construction is disclosed and claimed in a divisional application, Serial No. 622,887, filed October 17, 1945, in which a switch for controlling the operation of the heater is similarly actuated.

An object of the invention is the provision of a cooking utensil so formed and constructed that when heat is applied thereto to heat any content within said utensil, a heat responsive portion on said utensil will have movement, the said movement Abeing determined as to direction and amount by the temperature -of the4 content in the utensil. With reference to the aforesaid object, my invention is so arranged that when, for instance,

I realize that most cooking utensils expand and contract in accordance with applied food is placed in the tensil and heat applied v tion, and particularly those skilled in the art to i which the invention appertains.

With the above mentioned and other objects in A View, the invention consists in the novel and useful provision, formation, construction, association, and relative arrangement of parts, members and features, all as shown in certain embodiments in the accompanying drawings, described generally, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings: l

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a gas burner and utensil combination made in accordance with vmy invention,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the burner showing the grate or utensil support,

Figure 3 is an enlargedsectional view on the line 3 3 of Figure l,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view on the line d--t of Figure 1, and

Figures 5 and 6 are enlarged fragmentary sectional views of different forms of bimetallic heat f responsive portions for the cooking utensil.

The same reference numerals are applied to'.

corresponding parts throughout the views.

^ Referring "now `to the drawings, I have illus- Vvbottom of the'pan, as indicated at 5, and I have reduced'the thickness of the relatively'highly expansive stainless steel of the pan bottom 3 at this portion, as shown in Fig. 5, to provide amovable or distortable heat responsive por-tion 6. To the heat responsive portion t, I have bonded, in any approved manner, a. relatively lowly expansive disc l, this disc having a negligible co-eiilcient of expansion as compared to the relatively high coefcient of expansion of the portion 8, For instance.. the disc 1 is preferably made of 36% nickel steel, although that particular percentage may be varied or another-metal suitable for the purpose may be used. but it is preferable for the tempera- 'ture to which it is subject. The bonded metals in the rate of expansion between the portions 3 and 1 with the result that as the temperature of the utensil is raised, the thermostat 8 will tend to straighten or become coplanar with the bottom 3 of the utensil. This thermostat 8 is adapted to actuate means for controlling the operation of any type of heating means, as, for example, a valve for controlling the flow oi gas to a burner while said burner is in operation under the utensil I on which the thermostatis provided. Specifically, 9 indicates the stove or range casing which is adapted to support a top grate and gas valve'mechanism, as hereinafter detailed.

The stove casing is formed with a depressed flange ill which carries a cooking top Il. This cooking top may assume any configuration, depending upon the stove construction. However, in the present instance, this cooking top is formed with a depressed. flange I2, vwhich supports a flanged ring i3. This ring i3 is ordinarily known as the top burner support and said ring carries a grate or utensil support i4. In the present form of the invention, I have provided a grate of the character shown in Figure 2, comprising three radialarms equidistantly spaced apart. These radial arms are interconnected by inner and outer rings i and i6. The ring I5 as will soon appear is cast integral with the burner top and also is integral with a horizontal wall l1 provided with upper and lower central bosses i3 and i8 and-with a bore extending centrally therethrough. The wall I1 forms a removable top for the burner body 2i which is provided at its upper end with anupwardly and outwardly ilared or inclined wall 22, the outer marginal portion of which forms a downwardly inclined wall 23. Port-s 24 are provided between walls i1 and 22. It is evident'that while I have formed the grate l4 integral with the ring i5 and lts associated parts that I may, nevertheless, form these parts separately,

25 is a pipe which communicates with a source ,of gas supply. This pipe, through a suitable connector 26, is threaded into a hollow iltting 21. 28 is a second hollow fitting which includes a tube 28-opening within the chamber 3B o! the iirst fitting 21. f A gas-tight seal is provided between the tube 23 and fitting 21, asindicated at3l. The itting 28 is formed in two parts, namely, a hollow body 33 and cap 32, these parts being screw-threaded together, as indicated at 34. The

i hollow body part 33 is formed to carry gas Jets or nozzles 35 (see Fig. 4). These jets in the present instance are four in number and equidistantly spaced apart. The tting 28 accommodates a valve 38 and anannular valve seat 31. A spring 38 normally tends to close the valve. A reduced neck 39 connects the center or the top of the part 33 withthe lower end of burner body 2| and is formed integral with these parts. The burner body is provided at 40 with an externally threaded nipple, and a longitudinal bore 4i is also provided in the burner body in coaxial alignment with bore 20 in the wall i1. The nipple 40 threads Yinto the boss I8 as at 40a. A rod 42 extends through the bores 20 and 4I, this rod being conilned at its lower end within a central depressed portion 43 or the valve 38. Rod 42 is hereinafter termed the valve push rod, because movement of the rod 42 controls the opening and closing of the`valve 38.' Gas-tight seals are provided in the bore 4i to prevent leakage around the valve push rod 42 at 44 and 45. The valve push rod 42 is threaded at its upper 'end 48 for threaded engagement with the cap V-or disk 41. Disk 41 is termed the valve actuator, because it .is adapted to engage the thermostat 8 on the bottom of the cooking utensil, and said valve actuator transmits movement to the push rod 42 and valve 33 in accordance with movement ci the thermostat 8.

The valve actuator disc 41 is of convexe-concave form, the concave side being provided with an internally threaded central boss 48, which has threaded engagement with the end 48 of the valve push rod 42. The disc 41 is provided with openings, such as illustrated at 48 and 50, whereby a spanner wrench or equivalent means may 53, which has pressed-fit engagement in a recess 54 in the top of the boss i8.

It is intended that the heat responsive means or thermostat 8 of the cooking utensil should be centered directly over the valve actuator 41 so that said heat responsive portion 3 -lies within the confines of the ring i5 and is more or less shielded thereby from the direct heat of the names lof the burner. To accomplish this centering, any one of a number of means may be employed, one expedient being to provide the arms I4 of the grate with transverse concavities or depressions Eand 55, to receive an annular bead portion 51 on the bottom of the cooking utensil. the pan, the said annular bead 51 will be received in the concavities 55 or 58 of the grate. In this manner, the cooking utensil 'will have its heat responsive portion 8 centered over the valve actuator 41 and shielded within the ring i5,

At 58, I have shown a metering valve whereby a regulated amount of gas may ow through the jets 35, when the main valve 38 is closed. This valve 58 includes a small port or orifice 89, in the valve seat member 31 permitting communication between the jets 36 and the source of gas supply, and a metering pin 80, which may be adiusted in the orifice 58 by removing cap 8l and adjusting screw 58e. The metering valve 53 is usually adjusted to deliver just enough gas to keep the burner lighted and furnish only a minimum of heat, the adjustment being based on the smallest cooking utensil with a small amount oi' food therein so that this minimum quantity will not be overheated.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the burner body 2| has a mixer formed on the bottom thereof, the body being provided with four lengthwise and ,equi-distantly spaced bores 62 that function as mixer tubes. The jets 35 are Thus, depending upon the diameter of `ably mounted on the threaded lower endportion 65, of the burner body. A

Secured to the flanged ring I3 in any appropriate manner, such as by thescrews shown a't '6-6, is a burner tray 6l. This tray is annular in l form and provided with outer and inner walls 68 and 69, the wall 68 being provided with an outwardly extending flange It), which is secured to the iianged ring I3 by the screws 66. The wall 69 is of lesser height than wall 68, and is spaced from and under the baille 23 for inlet of secondary air to the burner;

` In passing, reference is had to Figure. 6, wherein I have shown that the cooking utensil may be 'provided with a different kind of thermostat or heat responsive portion 'M of the character shown in this figure. In this construction the utensil bottom 1i is provided with a central ilanged opening rl2, and, within the opening, and bearing against the iiange 13, is the thermostat or heat responsive member 16 composed of discs of two metals 15 and It ofdiierent thermal characteristics. As before, the heat responsive member is concavo-convex in form and tends to straighten or .flatten as it becomes heated. ny conven ient method may be utilized for securing the ther mostat or heat responsive member 'N to the bottom l l, so as to form a fluid-tight seal.

The operation, uses vand advantages of the invention are as follows:

To begin with, it is assumed that the utensil l contains some food product and that it is desired to heat this food to a boiling point. Accordingly, the actuator disc dl is rotated prior to placing the utensil in position thereover so that the graduation (see Figurey 2) lindicating boil is opposite an arrow or index mark like that indicated on top of the ring I5 in Fig. 2. Other graduations may be provided on the actuator disc,

such as warm, deep fry, etc., by means of which one may correctly adjust the actuator for proper operation by the thermostatic or heat responsiveportion 8 of the cooking utensil,

In Figure l, the valve 316 has closed against its seat so that the main gas supply to the burner is shut off althoughthe burner may be burning with a small aine as indicated at IZB due to the by-pass arrangement for the gas controlled by the metering valve 58.V Normally, the convexity of thev heat responsive portion of the cooking utensil l would be greater than that shown in Figure l, and substantially that shown in Figures v 5 and 6. If the food to be heated in the cooking utensil is cold, the convexe-concave heat responsive portion 8 of the utensil will contact the actuator el to depress the same, which will cause downward movement of the valve rod 42 and open valve 36, compressing spring 38. The gas is now on and gas,disoharged from the jets 35 mixes' of the -food will directly afect the heatrespon- I sive portion having the greatest thermal expansion, while that portion which has the least there mal expansion is shielded from the flames l26 by the vring I5. Thus, it will'be seen that the temperaturevof the food directly affects and causes movement of the heat` responsive portion of the utensil. When the food reaches the boiling point,

vthe adjustment of the actuator disc 41 is such v gether under action of the spring 38. Thereafter the burner operates only with a small pilot flame controlled by the metering valve 58.

If the cooking utensil is not removed from the stove, it is evident that as the food cools, the heat responsive portion 8 of the' utensil bottom gradually returns to its normal convexity and causes downward movement of the actuator lil. Slight movement of the actuator will open the valve 36 slightly and accordingly increase the size of the flame of the burner so as to apply more heat to the utensil.

When the cooking utensil is placed on the stov it may be slid over the top of the gratevuntil the annular bead portion 51. is received within the concavities 55 of the grate which centers the heat responsive portion 8 with respect to the actuator 41. The convexity of the actuator 'di facilitates sliding movement of the heat responsive portion 8 of the utensil, thereover.

Actual devices built in. accordance with the invention described have been found to work satisfactorily in practice, and it is possible to prevent scorching or burning of food contained Within av vantages ofmy invention. The appended claims have been drawn to cover all legitimate modifications and adaptations.

I claim:

.1. In combination,` a heater,` adapte-d for heating a cooking utensil, said heater having a regulator element movable with respect thereto to regulate the operation of the heater, and a cooking utensil adapted to be supported removably onA .v the heaterV having a thermostat forming a part of one wall thereof so that it' is in intimate contact on the inner side thereof with the contents of said utensil and directly responsive to changes in temperature thereof, and is removable from" the heater with the utensil and cleanablethere-` with, said thermostat being movable in response to temperature changes for direct operation of said regulator element when the ,utensilis supported on the. heater for heating of its contents.

2. In combination, a burner and a utensil support thereabove, a regulating valve for said burner having a movable operating element extending therefrom to the utensil support for operation, and a cooking utensil adapted to be supported removably on the utensil support having a thermostat forming a part of one wall thereof so that it is in intimate contact on the inner side thereof with Lthe contents of said utensil and directly responsive to changes in temperature thereof, and is removable from the utensil support with the utensil vand oleanable therewith,

said thermostat being movable in response to pension as compared. to the outer one, the heat ,temperature changes for direct operation .f the operating element of the regulating valve when the utensil rests on the utensil support for heating of its contents7 3. A structure as se forth in claim 1, wherein the thermostat comprises a bimetallic disc portion in a wall of the utensil, the central portion of which is adapted to move in the distortion of,

the thermostat when heated, the regulator ele- `ment being movable by engagement with the centrai portion of said bimetallic thermostat, the structure further including an actuator threadedly adjustable on the end of the regulator element and rotatable for temperature adjustments relative to said regulator element.

5. Astructure as set forth in claim ,1, wherein the thermostat comprises a bimetallic disc portion in the bottom wall of the' utensil the central portion of which is adapted to move in the distortion of the thermostat when heated, the regulator element being movable by engagement with the central portion of said bimetallic thermostat, the structure further including an enclosing ring on the top of the heater for surrounding the bimetallic thermostat t shield said thermo- Y stat from extraneous heat.

of which is adapted to move in the distortion of the thermostat when heated, the operating element of the regulating valve being movable by' engagement with the central portion of said bimetallic thermostat.

7. A structure as Set forth in claim 2, wherein the thermostat comprises a bimetallic disk pori tion in a wall of the utensil the central portion of which is adapted to move in the distortion of the thermostat when heated, the operating element of the regulating valve being movable by engagement with the central portion of said bimetallic thermostat. the structure further including au actuator threadedly adjustable' on the end of the operating element of the regulating valve and rotatable for temperature adjustments relative to said operating element.

8. A structure as set forth in claim 2, wherein the thermostatv comprises a bimetallic disc portion in the bottom wall of the utensil the central portion of which is adapted to move in the distortion of the thermostat when heated. the' operating element of the regulating valve being movable by engagement with the central portion of said bimetailic thermostat, the structure further including an enclosing ring above the burner for Asurrounding the bimetallic thermostat to shield said thermostat from extraneoiu heat.

9. Ag a new article of manufacture, a. portable cooking utensil adapted to be placed removably on a heating device and having a thermostat forming a substantially flush and coplanar part of the 'botttom thereof arranged to be heated by the contents of the utensil to regulate bythe consequent movement of said thermostat the operation of the heating devise, said thermostat being an integral part of the utensil removable with it from the heater device and'adapted to be cleaned with it in the washing thereof.

l0. As a new article of manufactur a portable to be heated by the contents of the utensil to A regulate by consequent movement of the central portion of the thermostat the operation of the heater. v

11. In combination, a heater adapted for heating a cooking utensil, said heater having a regulator element movable with respect thereto to regulate the operation of the heater, a cooking utensil adapted to be supported removably in operative relation to the heater, a thermostat forming a part of one wall of said cooking utensil arranged to be heated by the contents :if the utensil and removable from the heater with the utensil, said thermostat being movable in response to temperature change of the contents of saidy utensil, and means operable by said thermostat when the utensil is in operative relation to the heater for heating of its contents to transmit movement from said thermostat to said regulator element, said means being adjustable relative to said regulator element in the direction of movement of said thermostat.

l2. In combination, an automatic gas burner, comprising 9. burner body having ria-me ports, a cooking utensil adapted tov be supported removably over said burner and having a thermostat forming a part of the bottom wall thereof so that it is in intimate contact on the upper side thereof with the contents of said utensil and directly responsive to changes in temperature thereof and is removable from the burner withy through the burner body from the valve element and arranged to be operated by the thermostat to open the valve against action of the aforesaid spring means, whereby said valve element is arranged to be moved in response to changes in temperature of the thermostat.

13. In combination, an automatic gas burner, y

comprising a burner body having name ports, a ring enclosure extending upwardly from the burner body inside the heat zone of the flame ports and having the top thereof arranged to be broughtin close proximity with the bottom of a cooking utensil to be heated by the burner, a cooking utensil adapted to be supported removably over said burner and having a thermostat forming a part of the bottom wall thereof and located so as to lie within the ring enclosure when the utensil .is placed in operative relation to the burner, said thermostat being in intimate contact on the upper side thereof with the contents of said utensil and directlyl responsive to changes in temperature thereof and being removable from the burner with the utensil, said thermostat having movement of' its central portion in response to ternperature change of the contents of said utensil. a gasy valve body rigid with the burner body and arranged to deliver gas to the name ports, a valve element movable relative to a valve seat in said valve body, spring means normally tending to close the valve element, and apush rod extending upwardly through the burner body from the valve element and arranged to be operated by the thermostat to open the valve against the ac'- tion of the aforesaid spring means, whereby said Y valve element is arranged to be moved in response to changes in temperature of the thermostat.

14. The combination as set forth in claim 13, including an actuator adjustably threaded Aon the upper end of the push rod Within the ring lenclosure and having engagement with the central portion of the thermostat, said actuator being rotatably adjustable relative vto an index mark onthe burner to permit heating the .contents of" the utensil to a higher or lower temperature as desired.

15. An automatic gas burner, comprising a gas discharge jets on the top thereof, the burner body having gas conducting passages extending upwardly therein toward and communicating with the flame ports, the lower ends of the passages being in spaced relation to the aforesaid jets where'- by to entrain air with the gas discharged into 4 said passages from said jets, a valve element movable relative to a valve seat in said valve body, spring means normally tending to close the valve element, and a push rod extending upwardly through the burner body from the valve element and arranged to beoperated to open the valve against the action of the aforesaid spring means by a cooking utensil placed on the utensil support, said valve body having a by-pass passage therein for by-passing enough gas to the jets to maintain a pilot flame on the burner when the valve element is closed.

16. In a heat-controlled cooking pan, the combination of a pan having a thermostatic means inthe/bottom thereof as an integral part of said bottom that is removable with the pan from a heatingvmember and adapted to be cleaned with it, and a heating member having an actuator operable in unison with the said thermostatic means in the movement thereof relative tothe pan when the pan is disposed in heating proximity to the heating member for controlling a predetermined temperature.

1'?. In combination, a cooking utensil having a bimetallic thermostatic means substantially coaxial vfith and forming a substantially flush portion of the bottom of the utensil, and a heating means having an actuator operable by the thermostatic means for automatic regulation of a iov predetermined temperature of food in said uten-l sil.- 18. ncombination, a utensilhaving a bimetallic thermostatic means substantially coaxial with and forming asubstantially iiush portion of the utensil, and a heating means having an actuator operable by the thermostatic means for l automatic regulation of a predetermined temperature of contents in said utensil.

` 19. A stainless steel cooking utensil having a relatively high coeicient of expansion, a copperclad bottom having a circular opening extending partially through the stainless steel inthe bottom thereof, a thin disk of metal having alow coemcient of expansion inserted in the said opening and bonded to the stainless steel forming a bimetal thermostatic means for actuating a heater regulator element for control of a utensil heating means according to temperature changes.

20. A cooking utensil of the character described -having a bottom adapted to rest on a utensil support over a gas burner or the like, the central portion of said bottom being recessed and forming one element of a bimetallic thermostat, there being another element for said thermostat having a different coeiiicient of expansion inserted in the recess in said bottom and bonded to the -bottom wall -to complete a bimetallic thermostat adapted for actuating a heater regulator element in response to temperature changes of the contents of the utensil.

21. In combination, a utensil having a thermostatic means forming an integral part of a wall thereof in directv contact on the inner side with the contents of said utensil, whose temperature change is adapted to cause a movement thereof, and adapted to have direct contact on itsouter side with an actuator of a heating member, and a heating member having an actuator operable by said thermostatic means.

22. In combination, a heating member having a regulator element tending normally to move in one direction to a shut-off position, and a container adapted to be supported removably on said heating member having a thermostat forming a part of a wall'thereof and movable in response to temperature change of the contents of said container, said thermostat being arranged to move the regulatorelement from shut-oi position when the container is placed on the heating member, and being further arranged to permit return of said regulator element toward shut-off position in proportion to temperature rise of the contents of said container.

JOHN H. GRAYSON.

11 Aup Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,402,997. July 2, 194e.

JOHN H. GRAYSON l It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Column 7, line 4, claim 3, for se read set; line 68, claim 9, for botttom read bottom; column 10, line 5 claim 18, after portion insert of the bottom; and that the said Letters Patent should be'read with these corrections therein that the same may conform tothe record of the case in the Patent Oice.

Signed and Asealed this 17th dey of September, A. D. 1946.

LESLIE FRAZER,

First Assz'stant Oommsaz'oner of Patents.u 

